I admit: I used spies...

[Dead Man Flying]

Many years ago, someone produced an actual rank order of plane lethalities based on data that included muzzle velocities, ballistics, rates of fire, calibers, ammo loads, number of guns, etc.  I don't remember who that was (Dinger maybe?), but it's pretty silly to argue subjective lethality when there's actual information out there that can show the relative lethality of German planes to British planes.

If I recall, they're closer than you think.

[Karnak]

No they do not

Convergence is different
Ballistic properties is different
Effect from range shots is different
ammo load is different (which certainly would effect how one fires on a target)
Did you include stability?
Did you include speeds at which each aircraft typically fires its guns?  Or it's range?  or style of flying?

These planes can not be compared. as equals.

True, the Spitfire produces more concentrated damage and so probably has greater firepower than the P-47 due to "six" of its "eight" .50s worth of firepower hitting two locations rather than bring spread out in six locations.

Ballistics are so close to the same as to be a non-factor at anything resembling realistic shooting ranges.  Browning .50s and Hispano Mk IIs pair up better than any other two guns in a mixed armament situation.

Stability is fine on the Spitfire Mk XVI and the P-47s.  I'll grant the Mk XIV has issues there.  P-47s tend to be BnZ fighters, Spitfires can do either BnZ or TnB with aplomb and the range at which the player wants to fire is entirely up to them in both aircraft's cases.

[Oddball-CAF]

Oh man, I -LOVE- the graphs/charts you work up in here, Lusche.
They all make for fascinating reading. You have my thanks for
all the time and effort you put into 'em. <S>

Regards, Oddball